Rory McIlroy forced to produce his best golf to win in Dubai

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hugs his caddy after winning DP World Tour Championship in Dubai November 22, 2015. REUTERS

Reuters: Rory McIlroy won the European Tour World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday (November 22) having lost ground to overnight leader Andy Sullivan at first but then producing birdies when needed to catch and pass his rival.

McIlroy finished one stroke ahead of Sullivan, world 53, and also scooped the lucrative Race to Dubai season-long contest.

McIlroy said he had had to produce great play to catch up with Sullivan, and turn a three stroke disadvantage into one stroke ahead.

“I didn’t think he was going to miss,” he said of Sullivan. “He’s a fantastic player, has all the shots but he putted fantastically well today as well and I needed to produce some of my best stuff to best him and thankfully I was able to do it.”

McIlroy almost threw it all away at the 17th hole when he sent his tee shot into the water when two ahead. To limit the damage to just a bogey he had to sink a long undulating putt, and did so, to the roars of the crowd.

“I was a little bit lucky, I wouldn’t want to do it again,” said McIlroy. “You know to put myself in that position wasn’t obviously what I wanted to do but to be able to get out of that little hole with a putt like that, you know, it made the difference.”

The fact that McIlroy was able to continue in the Race to Dubai, let alone win it, is a sore point with some of his rivals because of the rules.

The Northern Irishman had to miss tournaments during five weeks of recuperation after snapping a ligament, and received a special dispensation from the European Tour allowing him to take part in the final tournaments of the season. Usually players have to compete in 13 tournaments to take part, and McIlroy had a tally of only 12.

“I’m sure there’s a few guys who maybe don’t agree with the outcome,” said McIlroy. “Obviously I am grateful to the European Tour for allowing me to be here this week and to win the Race to Dubai and the number of events that I have shows that when I have played I have played well. So obviously delighted with how I finished the season,” he said, adding that he would ensure he played a full European Tour schedule next year.